Solitons explore the quantum classical boundary

It is an open fundamental question how the classical appearance of our environment arises from the underlying quantum many-body theory. We propose that the quantum-classical boundary can be probed in collisions of bright solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates, where thousands of atoms form a large compound object at ultra cold temperatures. We show that these collisions exhibit intricate many-body quantum behavior, invalidating mean field theory. Prior to collision, solitons can loose their well defined quantum phase relation through phase diffusion, essentially caused by atom number fluctuations. This dephasing should typically render the subsequent dynamics more classical. Instead, we find that it opens the door for a tremendous proliferation of mesoscopic entanglement: After collision the two solitons find themselves in a superposition state of various constituent atom numbers, positions and velocities, in which all these quantities are entangled with those of the collision partner. As the solitons appear to traverse the quantum-classical boundary back and forth during their scattering process, they emerge as natural probe of mesoscopic quantum coherence and decoherence phenomena.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Next-to-soft Virtual Resummation for QCD Observables

We present a framework that resums threshold-enhanced logarithms, originating from soft-virtual and next-to-soft virtual (NSV) contributions in colour-singlet productions, to all orders in perturbation theory. The numerical impacts for these resummed predictions are discussed for the inclusive Drell–Yan di-lepton process up to next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy, restricting to only diagonal partonic channels

Resummed Higgs boson cross section at next-to SV to NNLO+NNLL‾ \rm NNLO + \rm \overline {NNLL}

We present the resummed predictions for inclusive cross section for the production of Higgs boson at next-to-next-to leading logarithmic ($\rm \overline {NNLL}$) accuracy taking into account both soft-virtual ($\rm SV$) and next-to SV ($\rm NSV$) threshold logarithms. We derive the $N$-dependent coefficients and the $N$-independent constants in Mellin-$N$ space for our study. Using the minimal prescription we perform the inverse Mellin transformation and match it with the corresponding fixed order results. We report in detail the numerical impact of $N$-independent part of resummed result and explore the ambiguity involved in exponentiating them. By studying the K factors at different logarithmic accuracy, we find that the perturbative expansion shows better convergence improving the reliability of the prediction at $\rm NNLO + \overline{NNLL}$ accuracy. For instance, the cross-section at $\rm NNLO + \overline{NNLL}$ accuracy reduces by $3.15\%$ as compared to the $\rm NNLO$ result for the central scale $\mu_R = \mu_F = m_H/2$ at 13 TeV LHC. We also observe that the resummed $\rm SV + NSV$ result improves the renormalisation scale uncertainty at every order in perturbation theory. The uncertainty from the renormalisation scale $\mu_R$ ranges between $(+8.85\% ,-10.12\%)$ at $\rm NNLO$ whereas it goes down to $(+6.54\% , - 8.32\%)$ at $\rm NNLO + \overline{NNLL}$ accuracy. However, the factorisation scale uncertainty is worsened by the inclusion of these NSV logarithms hinting the importance of resummation beyond $\rm NSV$ terms. We also present our predictions for $\rm SV + NSV$ resummed result at different collider energies.Comment: 51 pages, 6 Figure

Pro-Oxidant Therapeutic Activities of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles in Colorectal Carcinoma Cells

Given that basal levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are higher in cancer cells, there is a growing school of thought that endorses pro-oxidants as potential chemotherapeutic agents. Intriguingly, cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles can manifest either anti- or pro-oxidant activity as a function of differential pH of various subcellular localizations. In an acidic pH environment, for example, in extracellular milieu of cancer cells, CeO2 would function as a pro-oxidant. Based on this concept, the present study is designed to investigate the pro-oxidant activities of CeO2 in human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT 116). For comparison, we have also studied the effect of ceria nanoparticles on human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. Dose-dependent viability of cancerous as well as normal cells has been assessed by treating them independently with CeO2 nanoparticles of different concentrations (5-100 mu g/mL) in the culture media. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of nanoceria for HCT 116 is found to be 50.48 mu g/mL while that for the HEK 293 cell line is 92.03 mu g/mL. To understand the intricate molecular mechanisms of CeO2-induced cellular apoptosis, a series of experiments have been conducted. The apoptosis-inducing ability of nanoceria has been investigated by Annexin V-FITC staining, caspase 3/9 analysis, cytochrome c release, intracellular ROS analysis, and mitochondrial membrane potential analysis using flow cytometry. Experimental data suggest that CeO2 treatment causes DNA fragmentation through enhanced generation of ROS, which ultimately leads to cellular apoptosis through the p53-dependent mitochondrial signaling pathway

Solar Photovoltaic Principles

Due to the limited supply of fossil fuels in the modern era, humankind’s need for new energy sources is of utmost importance. Consequently, solar energy is essential to society. Solar energy is an endless and pure source of energy. Solar energy research is being used to help solve the world’s energy dilemma, safeguard the environment, and promote significant sustainable economic growth. Humans have now constructed numerous solar photovoltaic power plants to produce electricity, and many people have installed solar panels on their homes’ roofs to do the same. The non-mathematical explanation of PV solar cell theory and its circuit architecture is covered in this chapter. It is written for a variety of groups, including engineers who need an introduction to the subject of photovoltaic cells, end users who require a deeper understanding of the theory to support their applications, students interested in PV science and technology, and others. The fundamentals of the individual electricity-producing solar cell—the photovoltaic cell—are discussed in this chapter. The reader is informed about the workings of PV cells. The chapter focuses on the operation and construction of PV cells. The advantages and disadvantages of the cell’s potential industrial applications are discussed. Here, we go over how to ensure that the PV cells used in contemporary renewable energy systems are up to snuff

Novel transcriptional signatures for sputum-independent diagnostics of tuberculosis in children

Pediatric tuberculosis (TB) is challenging to diagnose, confirmed by growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis at best in 40% of cases. The WHO has assigned high priority to the development of non-sputum diagnostic tools. We therefore sought to identify transcriptional signatures in whole blood of Indian children, capable of discriminating intra-thoracic TB disease from other symptomatic illnesses. We investigated the expression of 198 genes in a training set, comprising 47 TB cases (19 definite/28 probable) and 36 asymptomatic household controls, and identified a 7- and a 10-transcript signature, both including NOD2, GBP5, IFITM1/3, KIF1B and TNIP1. The discriminatory abilities of the signatures were evaluated in a test set comprising 24 TB cases (17 definite/7 probable) and 26 symptomatic non-TB cases. In separating TB-cases from symptomatic non-TB cases, both signatures provided an AUC of 0.94 (95%CI, 0.88–1.00), a sensitivity of 91.7% (95%CI, 71.5–98.5) regardless of culture status, and 100% sensitivity for definite TB. The 7-transcript signature provided a specificity of 80.8% (95%CI, 60.0–92.7), and the 10-transcript signature a specificity of 88.5% (95%CI, 68.7–96.9%). Although warranting exploration and validation in other populations, our findings are promising and potentially relevant for future non-sputum based POC diagnostic tools for pediatric TB.publishedVersio

BLR1 and FCGR1A transcripts in peripheral blood associate with the extent of intrathoracic tuberculosis in children and predict treatment outcome

Biomarkers reflecting the extent of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-induced pathology and normalization during anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) would considerably facilitate trials of new treatment regimens and the identification of patients with treatment failure. Therefore, in a cohort of 99 Indian children with intrathoracic tuberculosis (TB), we performed blood transcriptome kinetic analysis during ATT to explore 1) the association between transcriptional biomarkers in whole blood (WB) and the extent of TB disease at diagnosis and treatment outcomes at 2 and 6 months, and 2) the potential of the biomarkers to predict treatment response at 2 and 6 months. We present the first data on the association between transcriptional biomarkers and the extent of TB disease as well as outcome of ATT in children: Expression of three genes down-regulated on ATT (FCGR1A, FPR1 and MMP9) exhibited a positive correlation with the extent of TB disease, whereas expression of eight up-regulated genes (BCL, BLR1, CASP8, CD3E, CD4, CD19, IL7R and TGFBR2) exhibited a negative correlation with the extent of disease. Baseline levels of these transcripts displayed an individual capacity >70% to predict the six-month treatment outcome. In particular, BLR1 and FCGR1A seem to have a potential in monitoring and perhaps tailoring future antituberculosis therapy